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Introduction
The Lions Eye Care Center (LECC) was originally set up in 1984 in a small
rented room in Bhrikuti Mandap, Kathmandu, offering only outpatient
services.
Since then, it has progressed from strength to strength. It now functions
as a non-profit Making, International, Non Governmental Organization (INGO)
offering a variety of eye care services to the people in different parts
of Nepal.
Background
Information
Lions Eye Care Center was established in response to alarming statistics
revealed in a national survey in 1981 which discovered approximately
80,000 people in Nepal who were needlessly blind from Cataract alone.
To combat this problem, Lions Eye Care Center has had notable success.
Over the period 2000/2003, LECC has conducted 46 surgical eye camps
performing sight restoring operations on the total 3099, people in the
Rural Regions of Nepal.
Since last ten years, it has also expanded its hospital facilities to
accommodate inpatients and introduce regular operating facilities.
Aims
The aims of Lions Eye Care Center are to
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Reduce
the incidence of curable blindness present in Nepal.
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Provide
optimum eye health care services to the needy.
-
Improve
standard of education to its clients on aspects of safe primary eye
health.
Objectives
The specific objectives of Lions Eye Care Center revolve around 3 main
principles:
-
Curative:
Involves reducing the incidence of curable blindness through
appropriate medical and surgical treatment e.g. cataract, glaucoma.
-
Preventive:
Involves early detection and treatment of potentially blinding
conditions e.g. xeropthalmia, trachoma etc.
-
Promotive:
Concentrates on providing health education in relation to primary eye
care, nutrition and ocular hygiene through community social workers
and health personnel.
Future
plans
Encouraged by the success we have achieved so far Lions Eye Care Center
plans to expand its existing programmes and facilities to benefit more
people. It also aims to modernize its facilities e.g. introduce laser
& phacoemulsification facilities and hence commence an income
generation element to make the project self sustainable.
Attributes
Much of the thanks for our success has to be attributed to its many
past and present sponsors/donors and to the enthusiasm and dedication of
its hardworking staff without whom the project would not survive. To those
concerned, may we express many thanks especially to Operation Eyesight
Universal, Canada, AOCA (Japan) and visiting Lions from all over the world.
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